Renal status in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes

In Japan, there has been a remarkable increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes in elderly patients. This study aimed to clarify the renal status in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

There were 978 patients with type 2 diabetes who were classified into three groups: Group 1 (aged < 65 years of age), Group 2 (65-74 years of age), and Group 3 (≥ 75 years of age). Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin level were measured. Moreover, the frequencies of each stage of chronic kidney disease for each group were determined, and differences among the three groups were analyzed.

The mean eGFR in Group 3 was 63.2 ± 19.1 mL/min/1.73 m², which was lower than those in Group 1 (83.3 ± 22.8 mL/min/1.73 m²) and Group 2 (72.0 ± 19.4 mL/min/1.73 m²). The percentage of low eGFR (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) with normo- and microalbuminuria in Group 3 was 31.9%, which was higher than the percentages observed in Group 1 (7.1%) or Group 2 (16.1%). Diabetic macroangiopathy was frequently observed in these patients. The frequency of low eGFR with proteinuria was 10.2%. In this group, diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies were frequently noted.

In elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, renal dysfunction is characterized by low eGFR with normo- and microalbuminuria. In this group, macroangiopathy was more common than microangiopathy. The elderly patients with diabetes with low eGFR with proteinuria frequently had micro- and macroangiopathies.